Rally pushes Shays on health care bill

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_6362632

Rally pushes Shays on health care bill
JOHN BURGESON [e-mail]
Article Last Updated: 07/12/2007 11:30:44 PM EDT

About 30 members of the municipal workers' labor union turned out at rally Thursday in downtown Bridgeport urging U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, to vote for a federal appropriations bill that would increase funding for health care, education and other social services.

"We're pressing him on this," said Sal Luciano, Connecticut chief of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. "We want him to stand up for the working people of the 4th District."

The rally took place on the sidewalk outside of 10 Middle St., the high-rise office building where Shays has an 11th-floor office. Although Shays was in Washington on Thursday, his staffers were given copies of the AFSCME position in support of the Health and Human Services and Education spending bill.

"The bill has about $10.5 billion more than Bush wanted," said Luciano, "and Bush said he'll veto it. We're asking Shays to not only vote in favor of it, but to vote to override Bush's veto later on."

Joining AFSCME were some members from ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), which also supports the bill.

"I don't know if Shays will support it," said Donna Pearce, of ACORN. "His mind is made up — but at least now he understands where we stand." John Cardarelli, Shays' press secretary, when contacted by telephone in Washington, said that the congressman hasn't indicated how he'll vote on the bill, although "there are elements in it that he has supported
in the past."

FULL story at link.